The US Marine Corps' first F-35C squadron is now fully ready to fight from the Navy's aircraft carri

[Dial H For Hero]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-marine-corps-first-f-142125578.html'

he first US Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron has achieved full operational capability, meaning it is now fully prepared to wage war from Navy aircraft carriers, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement last week.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, nicknamed the "Black Knights," is the first Marine Corps F-35C squadron to reach this status.

The Marines have traditionally flown the F-35B, a short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant that can fight from airstrips or amphibious assault ships. Although the F-35B has not yet achieved full operational capability, this jet has been active.

The F-35B deployed for the very first time in March 2018 aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, and later that year, a Marine Corps F-35B became the first to fly into combat when it took off from the USS Essex to carry out strikes against the Taliban.

[marble falls]

1. Great. The hugest boondoggle ever is "operational" a mere 35 yrs or so later. Our grandchildren ...

... will be paying for this shit.

[Dial H For Hero]

2. Given that we're going to have around 2,400 of them, it's safe to say they'll be in service for the

next half century...at least.

[librechik]

3. send them after UAPs. And hope to God we never need them for war.

can 35 yr old technology compete with what/ whenever the tictacs come from? I dunno. I know the F35s can't go underwater.

[abqtommy]

4. Good op. I just had the thought that if we can afford the F-35 then fundng President Biden's

infrastructure plan should be a cinch.